Aquatic and Wetland Vascular Plants of the Northern Great Plains

63. Poaceae, the Grass Family

27. Spartina Schreb. -- Cordgrass

1. Spartina gracilis Trin. -- Alkali cordgrass

Plants mostly 3-8 dm tall; leaves usually involute, 2-5 mm wide when
flattened. Inflorescence of 3-8, 1-sided spikes, the spikes appressed
in the raceme, 2-6 cm long. Spikelets 7-9 mm long; glumes hispid
on the keel, the first glume ca. 1/2 as long as the second, acuminate, the second
glume acute to mucronate; lemma nearly as long as the second glume, 6-8
mm long. Jul--Sep. Wet meadows, shores, flats and seepage areas, often where
alkaline or saline; frequent; (c Man. to B.C., s to KS, NM, AZ and CA).